Successfully raising funds early on in a campaign can breed more success, and 1st District congressional candidates who could point to positives from last week's quarterly finance reports touted their numbers.

Monday

Oct 19, 2009 at 12:01 AMOct 19, 2009 at 6:00 PM

Mary Clarkin - The Hutchinson News - mclarkin@hutchnews.com

"Even though fundraising is a matter of counting money, it has a non-quantifiable aspect in that it can help the candidate raise more money," said Bob Beatty, associate professor of political science at Washburn University.

The candidate can point to his growing account, Beatty said, and tell potential donors and prospective voters: " 'A lot of people think I'm going to win. Not just me.' "

"And in politics," Beatty added, "donors want to be associated with winners."

That's why the candidate with fat coffers can find it easier to raise still more funds than the candidate with a smaller bankroll, according to Beatty.

Also, he observed, those candidates amassing war chests can scare off would-be competitors - and generate attention in the press about their fundraising.

Three tiers

When quarterly campaign finance reports appeared last week on the U.S. Federal Election Commission's Web site, state Sen. Tim Huelskamp, Fowler, led the pack in the six-candidate Republican race in the 1st District's August 2010 primary.

By the weekend, representatives for state Sen. Jim Barnett, Emporia, were pointing out that a glitch in the electronic filing had created the wrong impression about Barnett's fundraising efforts. Instead of finishing in fourth place in terms of cash on hand, as shown on the FEC's Web site, Barnett actually trailed only Huelskamp, according to the Barnett campaign.

The reports for the July-September quarter showed the six Republicans falling into three tiers:

* Barnett and Huelskamp each had more than $300,000 in cash on hand at the end of the quarter. Huelskamp had $378,705, and Barnett, $302,663.

Huelskamp supporters spoke out earlier - and critically - about the large number of non-Kansans giving to Wasinger's campaign, while Wasinger's supporters pointed out how most other contestants inflated their campaign accounts because they were collecting funds for both the primary and general 2010 elections.

There is a $2,400 maximum contribution limit for individuals and political action committees in the separate primary and general election campaign cycles. Some candidates - including Huelskamp, Barnett and Mann - have collected $2,400 for the primary from donors, tapping those same donors for extra funds that are earmarked for the general election.

The general election donations, however, can't be spent on the primary race, including paying off the primary campaign debt if the candidate loses. Tim Barker, a Salina Republican who dropped out of the race this year, recently had to return the general election dollars he had raised.

Barnett personally loaned his campaign $100,000, an action that did not escape the notice or criticism of detractors.

The Barnett campaign, meanwhile, noted that the latest quarterly reports showed Huelskamp was following Wasinger's example in raising significant sums from out-of-state donors, with Huelskamp collecting funds in the last quarter from people in some 20-plus states.

Not too late

"The thing about fundraising is that it is an easily correctible issue," said Chapman Rackaway, associate professor of political science at Fort Hays State University.

There's still time for Shadwick and Boldra, he said.

A good fundraising consultant can help a candidate raise money quickly, Rackaway said, and an example of successful online fundraising is Rand Paul, who has reported over $1 million in contributions in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky.

"Money looks for a way to get into politics," Rackaway said.

Currently, campaign donations are being spent on mailings, candidate travel, campaign consultants, staff and office space, and equipment, the finance reports reveal. Big spending in the primary contest won't get under way until next spring, Rackaway said.

"It doesn't matter how good your message is if you can't communicate it to people," Rackaway said, and attracting people to hear a speech is difficult.

Candidates will rely on mailings and hit the airwaves. Wasinger's report showed he already has spent money on a film crew.

Complicating fundraising for the six Republicans jockeying to succeed U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, is Moran's own race for the U.S. Senate. He and U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, are locked in a contest and also seeking funds from Kansas Republicans. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is running for governor in 2010, and he's competing for donations, too, as well as other Republicans running for statewide offices.

"There's a lot of chum in the water right now," said a campaign consultant in the 1st District congressional GOP primary.

Rackaway does not regard Jilka, a former Salina mayor, as a credible candidate in the Republican-dominated 1st District.

The Republican candidate who can raise the funds to wage a winning primary race, Rackaway said, would need only about $1.75 to win the general election contest.

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